BREAKING NEWS
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, 20-29 October 2023
Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the Australian Art Orchestra today announced that multi-award-winning Noongar woman and neo-soul singer-songwriter Bumpy has been selected as the recipient of their First Nations Artist Residency Program recipient for 2023.
The residency program was launched in 2021 to support the career development of a First Nations musician, with a particular focus on jazz and improvised music.
Bumpy has performed at such festivals and events as BIGSOUND, Strawberry Fields, Boogie Festival, Melbourne Music Week, Queenscliff Music Festival, Sun Cycle, St Kilda Festival, Dreamtime at the MCG, APRA Music Awards. Last year she won the Triple J Unearthed NIMAs Competition, featured as a Triple J Spotlight Artist and won the Uncle Archie Roach Foundation Award at the Music Victoria Awards.
As part of her residency Bumpy will develop a commissioned work, in language and with support from the festival and AAO, over the next 18 months to be premiered at the 2024 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Festival CEO & Program Director Hadley Agrez is thrilled at the prospect.
“Bumpy is an incredible artist and we are very excited to work alongside her as she develops her creative commission for the 2024 festival. This is a program we’re extremely proud of, aiming to foster an environment and a sector in which First Nations musicians play a central role in shaping the sound and style of Australian jazz and improvised music,” Agrez said.
The First Nations Artist Residency Program provides a cash bursary to support the development of the new work, as well as an additional bursary for artistic and professional development opportunities, and participation in the AAO’s Creative Music Intensive.
For further information visit www.melbournejazz.com
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2023 runs from October 20 – 29
Look out for program details to be announced in coming weeks.
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